Each of their seasons had followed a script that was defined by overcoming some level of adversity along the way.

Whether it was injuries, inexperience or the unexpected loss of key players to club-team obligations, the Warren boys and Taft and Marshall girls soccer teams found themselves facing do-or-die situations going into Tuesday's District 27-5A finales at the Hardin Athletic Complex.

Thanks to their outcomes — plus O'Connor's 3-0 victory over Clark at Farris — the Taft and Marshall girls earned postseason berths. The Warren boys (10-8-5, 8-5-3), however, must await the outcome of today's Brandeis-Jay game to learn their fate. Brandeis clinches the final playoff spot with a win or a one-game playoff with a tie. A loss, and the Broncos miss the postseason.

“The whole team is going to go out, and we're going to support Jay,” said Warren's Conner Mitchell, who scored the game-winner in the 59th minute. Taylor Noblett added an insurance goal with 6:21 left.

In making their sixth straight playoff appearance, Taft's girls (13-9-0, 10-6-0) built an early two-goal advantage, then added three unanswered scores in the final five minutes of the first half after Stevens had pulled within 2-1.

“I've been on varsity since my freshman year, and every year we've made it with no doubts,” Taft senior midfielder Christine Belscamper said. “I'm actually really proud of my girls for pulling it out. It's definitely more challenging. It made us work even harder, and hopefully that'll help us in the playoffs.''

For the second year in a row, Marshall (10-11-3, 9-5-2) had its back against the proverbial wall going into the regular-season finale. And for the second time, the Rams responded.

Veronica Rodriguez scored the tying goal in the 68th minute — the final tally in a furious second half that saw the teams combine for five goals. Nadia Flores had Marshall's other second-half score. Sara Coronado converted a penalty kick following a handball in the first half.